Wire-fence tightener



(No Model.)

f S. C. BOWEN. WIRE FENCE TIGHTBNER.

No. 606,505. Patented June 28 WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

To all whom it may concern.-

, eners; and I do hereby declare the following ENITE TATES SAMUEL C. BOWEN, OF MEDINA, NEl/V YORK.

WIR'E-FENCELTIGHTE'NEB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of L tt rs lPatent Ne. 606,505, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed June 1'7, 1896. Renewed Apri129, 1898. Serial No. 679,254. (No model.)

Be it known that I, SAMUEL O. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'jWVire-Fence Tightto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a new and useful improvement in devices for tightening the line-wires of a wire fence; and it consists, essentially, in so constructing the bracket which supports the winding-spindle that it can be, .readily and quickly attached to a post some distance from it; and the invention further consists'in providing said bracket with means for holding the winding spindle properly seated in its bearings in' the bracket, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The principal object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the cost of the construction of wire-tighteners and lessen the labor of securing them to the line-wires of the fence.

I'Ieretoforedevices of this character have generally been secured to the post by boring holes through the latter to receive the wires, requiring both time and expense, and therefore greatly objectionable. In my improved tightener the attachi'ngmeans is connected thereto and the boring of holes for line-wires is obviated.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wirefence, showing my improved tighteners applied to the line-wires thereof; Fig. 2, a central horizontal sectional view, somewhat enlarged, of the tightener detached; and Fig. 3, a bottom plan view of the same.

Referring specifically to the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the end post and 2 the intermediate posts, all of which may be of the kind ordinarily used in the construction of this class of fences.

The numeral 3 indicates the. line-wires of the fence, one end of each wire being connected to a winding-spindle 4, which is seated and adapted to be rotated in half-bearings made in the arms of a bracket 5, which is provided with a hollow tapering oblong-shaped extension 6, having a solid end provided with holes '7, in which are secured the ends of a wire loop 8, bynieans of which the tightener is attached to the post.

The winding-spindle is provided at one end with a ratcheted head 9 and at the other end permit the spindle to be freely rotated in a forward direction when it is necessary to tighten a wire. The outer end of the lug or detent is provided with a projection 12, which extends outward under the ratchet-head and serves to prevent the spindle from slipping or dropping down in its bearings and causing trouble in rotating it.

The ends of the wire loop pass through holes 13 at opposite sides of the bracket and, being bent in the form of a hook, are secured in holes 7, made in the solid end of the extension 6, said solid end being also provided with a central perforation 14, through which the line-wire passes.

. As shown in the drawings, the tightener is attached to the post by passing the loop over the same and confining it at its proper posi tion thereon bymeans of a staple or other suitable fastener. The line-wire after being passed through the central perforation in the solid end of the extension 6 is secured to the winding-spindle in the usual manner. To

. tighten the line-wire, the winding-spindle is turned in the proper direction by means of a wrench applied to the square end of the spindle, and when the wire is drawn sufficiently taut the abrupt edge of the ratchet-tooth is engaged by the lug or detent and the spindle is prevented from turning backward.

By dispensing with the usual flange on the end of the spindle to prevent it from slipping out of its bearing and providing the lug or detent with the right-angle projection I am 1. A wire-fence tightener, comprising a hollow bracket formed with a solid end perforated for the passage of a fence-wire,a ratchethead spindle journaled across the open end of said bracket, with its ratchet-head outside thereof, and a lug or detent, formed on the outside of the bracket, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet to prevent backward rotation of the spindle, said lug having a projection arranged to retain said spindle in proper operative position.

2. Asanewarticle of manufacture, afencewire tightener, consisting of a hollow bracket formed With a solid end perforated for the passage of a fencewire, a ratchet-head spindle journaled across the open end of said bracket, a lug or detent, formed on the outside of the bracket and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-head and prevent backward movement of the spindle, a projection on said lug arranged to engage said ratchet and hold saidspindle in operative position, and a wire loop having its ends passed through exterior perforations and secured in the solid end of the bracket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.'

SAMUEL O. BOWEN.

Witnesses:

F. J. SoUIREs,

SMITH SANBORN. 

